WASHINGTON – Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives this morning highlighting his amendment that was adopted during the Education and Labor Committee markup of the Democrat health care bill which would provide that Members of Congress who vote in favor of a government-run health care plan enroll in that plan themselves.

“Mr. Speaker, as Democrats push for a government takeover of health care, I hope they will abide by a very simple standard: if a government-run health plan is good enough for the American people, it is good enough for Congress.

“During consideration of the over 1,000 page bill in the Education and Labor Committee, I successfully got an amendment passed that would provide that Congress members who vote in favor of government-run health care to enroll in that plan themselves. The American people should monitor that this provision is kept in the bill.

“I want to commend Congressman John Fleming, a physician, for originally promoting this concept of fairness. I urge my Democrat colleagues to adopt this standard if they insist on dragging a big government bureaucracy between patients and doctors. The American people deserve better to protect jobs.

“In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.”

In addition to the enrollment amendment, Congressman Wilson also successfully had the committee adopt an amendment to shield the men and women of our armed forces from onerous mandates and possible coverage deterioration as a result of the Democrat’s complex new health care governing scheme. Specifically, the Wilson Amendment exempted TRICARE from the “pay-or-play” employer mandate and other benefit mandates that would place an additional burden on this program that serves military personnel and their families.